Lately I’ve been thinking about photographing in a narrative sense. Trying to tell a specific story with the pictures that I take. Right now that means shooting a number of images centered around a particular subject. It makes photography more interesting to me. Gives it a purpose and a discipline. When I review the photographs I ask the question – “Do these add anything to the story?” “Do they strengthen or weaken the portfolio I’ve built around this particular topic?”

Working this way has helped me to shoot with more of a purpose. For the frames that I take or about to take I ask myself what is interesting about this picture that I am willing to take it. If someone looks at this picture, what are they getting out of it? What can they say about it? Does this picture stand out on it’s own for any reason? After awhile it becomes a subconscious thing. And then there are times that I take a picture, I like it, but I don’t know why. For those I have to wait. I know the answer will come to me sometime.

Ultimately I see it as really developing your eye and being able to ask some honest questions about the work that you’re doing. It’s a slow process. Definitely not the click click click of the digital age. But I think it’s a good thing. My hope and feeling is that it will strengthen my own work and lead me to develop my style. I think that is how a photographer/artist stops being a trend follower and really starts producing.